If you want to find some really strict gun laws, Colorado is clearly the place to be.
It’s true that the state allows people to carry concealed weapons. And, sure, in Colorado you can travel with a loaded gun in your vehicle. You can bring your gun into stores, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses, as long as it is in “plain sight.”
But, boy howdy, you let a five-year-old show up in school with a clear plastic princess bubble gun and the law will crack right down on her.
The Huffington Post reports that a kindergarten student in Brighton, Colorado, forgot to ask her mommy is she could bring her brand new bubble gun to school for recess. She put the pink toy into her pretty princess backpack and went off to school.
At recess, she apparently whipped out the “weapon” and started shooting bubbles all around. Whoopee!
A teacher saw the “gun” and thought about the school’s zero tolerance policy for weapons. She turned the perp in to the principal, who confiscated the bubble maker. The parents were called and the child was sent home from school on a one day suspension.
For blowing bubbles out of a gun shaped bubble blower. This is insanity.
The school defended its action by stating that it is district policy to suspend students for bringing imitation weapons to school. They also said that toy, or pretend, guns can:
“cause a distraction for our students in the learning process.”
Except that it was recess, where theoretically there was no learning in process. And you have to think that being suspended from school would be more of a disruption to learning than blowing bubbles might be.
There have been many similar stories around the country with students suspended for everything from pastry shaped like a gun, and even pointing a finger in a gun gesture.
The little girl’s Mom was more understanding than many of us might be. While she did not want to give her name, she did speak to the local news, saying:
“I apologized right away and said that I am so sorry she did that. I appreciate that they’re trying to keep our kids safe, I really do. But there needs to be some common sense. It blows bubbles.”
At a time when states are completely incapable of passing any laws to restrict REAL guns, it is beyond ridiculous to think that little children are being punished for playing with bubbles.
Featured image via Video.
